Best Bets

Best Bets

May 18, 1990

PROPOSING A TOAST

The story of a little boy and the appliances who loved him, "The Brave Little Toaster" takes place in a world where household objects have a life of their own. That world comes to the Naro in Norfolk this weekend.

The movie, by ex-Disney director Jerry Rees, is a throwback to 1950s animation. It has heart for the kids and hip humor for the parents.

"The Brave Little Toaster" will be shown Saturday at 1 and 2:45 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. Matinees will also be shown Saturdays and Sundays through June 10 at Naro Expanded Cinema at 1507 Colley Ave. in Norfolk. Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for people 12 and under and 65 and over. For more information call 625-6276.

SATIRE GONE SOUTH

Songs about a 300-pound woman draped across a purple Naugahyde couch in a trailer aren't for everyone, but fans of the Rev. Billy C. Wirtz are passionate about his talent for satirizing the tacky side of Southern life.

Expect to hear more about the hefty "Roberta" and find out "Will There Be a Shopping Mall in Heaven?" Sunday at Larkin's.

Catch Wirtz and opening act Tough Luck Sunday at 6 p.m. at Larkin's, 600 Nevan Road, in Virginia Beach. Tickets are $6 in advance, $7 day of show. Call 425-7995 for more information.

PICNIC WITH THE POPS

Once a year, the sounds of music float up from the banks of Cypress Creek in Smithfield.

The setting is the grounds of Windsor Castle, one of the town's grand old homes, where the Virginia Symphony Pops presents its annual outdoor concert Sunday.

The grounds open at 3 p.m. to allow picnickers a chance to find a good spot for the 6 p.m. concert.

Conductor Winston Dan Vogel will lead the players in a concert of light works by Elgar, Rossini, Copland, Strauss, Sousa, Bernstein and others. Tickets are $5 adults, $2 students, and reservations are highly recommended. Call 357-7312 or 357-4314 for information.

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT

Opera has been around for hundreds of years, but Opera Day is a first.

To thank its loyal suporters and bring new music lovers into the fold, Virginia Opera is presenting Opera Day from 3-5:30 p.m. Saturday at Norfolk's Center Theater.

Hosted by General Director Peter Mark and President Jane Browning, the afternoon will include food, family activities and a raffle drawing for a new Mercedes Benz. The kids can queue up for the "One Pig Puppet Show," an opera primer featuring pigs and other animals dresed as opera singers.

If you want to attend the opera's "thank you" celebration, make a reservation by calling 627-9545.

ROSY FORECAST

A rose by any name smells sweet. A rose show by any name is a carnival for the senses.

And that's just what's coming up at Coliseum Mall in Hampton this weekend. The Virginia Peninsula Rose Society is presenting the 42nd annual Peninsula Rose Show, 2-9:30 p.m. on Saturday and 12:30-5 p.m. on Sunday. The viewing, and sniffing, is free.

WATERCOLORS AT THE BEACH

More than 100 watercolor paintings from 265 artists across the state will go on view Sunday when the 11th Annual Virginia Watercolor Society Jurored Exhibition opens at the Virginia Beach Center for the Arts.

The show traditionally ranges from conventional watercolor landscapes and still lifes to experimental works with a surprisingly radical edge. More than 25 of the artists are from the Hampton Roads area.

The Center is located at 2200 Park Ave. near the end of the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children. Call 425-0000.

JUBILANT

With its daredevil circus acts, 96-foot ferris wheel and celebrity cow-milking contest, Chesapeake Jubilee is a tad different from the run-of-the-mill city-wide festival.

The 8th annual Chesapeake Jubilee, held tonight through Sunday at Chesapeake City Park, kicks off a summer of festivals that doesn't end until late fall. The Jubilee knows how to throw a party.

The festival has some sights seldom seen outside a circus tent. It will bring Hugo Zacchini, a human cannonball, and the Incredible Nocks, who balance on 80-foot-high wires. There's also an animal tent, rides and the annual fireworks explosion on Saturday night.

To get to the 45-acre park, take Interstate 64 east to the Greenbrier Parkway South exit. Follow the signs and the cars. Or leave your car at a shuttle parking lot, which includes Indian River High School, Armada/Hoffler Executive Center, Deep Creek High School and Manor High School. The round-trip shuttle ride costs $2.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. today, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, and from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. Call 547-2118 for more information.